Student hacks: More freebies than you’ll ever get again

Oct 1, 2016

Rate this article and enter to winStudent life is full of challenges, sometimes triggering a major case of enough already. You’re probably aware that your school offers a bunch of services and resources designed to help you be healthy, resilient, and successful. Do they work? In surveys by Student Health 101, you say yes: These services can make the difference between passing or failing, an A or a B, staying in or dropping out. Students often say they regret waiting until they were in a crisis, and wish they’d accessed these resources earlier. Some report that for the longest time they didn’t know certain types of support existed.

Free stuff for students

Campus resources are usually available free or at a low cost. Of course, résumé help, counseling, and so on are not literally free; their cost is covered by your tuition. If you don’t use them, you’re not getting what you’re paying for. In a recent survey by Student Health 101, three out of four students said this is even more reason to access these services. If you wait until after you’ve graduated to learn yoga or get professional help with your social anxiety, it will likely be more costly.

How to know what you have

The availability of resources at any given school depends on various factors. To learn what’s typically available and how can it make your life easier, click on each section (next page).

Here’s how to make sure you’re not missing out:

Scour your school’s website

Talk with staff, faculty, mentors, and other students

Check out any building, event, publication, or materials that suggests resources for students

Look for student jobs and other opportunities to work with your school’s resources

Review your orientation resources (e.g., Class of 2020 Facebook page)

Academic tutoring, office hours, and study support

“Student tutoring and support services have been most helpful to me. I was able to get tutoring for all of my classes, check out books for the semester, get extra advising, and always heard something positive.”—First-year graduate student, Old Dominion University, Virginia

“They helped me bring my essay writing up to over 80 percent grade-level, elevating my writing ability from high school to university quality in one session.”—Fifth-year online student, Trent University, Ontario

Typical services

Supports students through ongoing or short-term struggles, and helps students become more competitive (e.g., aspiring grad students looking to improve their grades)

Office hours provide individualized time with instructors or peer tutors

Academic advising

“My academic advisor helps identify a balanced combination of courses so that my course load is not overwhelming.” —Fourth-year online undergraduate, Florida International University

“It made a world of difference between me going to grad school or not going...between succeeding and failing at the process.” —First-year graduate student, California State University, Stanislaus

Typical services

Guidance around what classes to take when, in order to meet graduation requirements efficiently, helps students get through their program more quickly and save money by taking classes in the most appropriate sequence

Support with decisions around personal goals relating to career, interests, and/or advanced degrees

May provide support with time management and study skills

Cost if paying privately: $50–$100/hour (services for students with disabilities) (various sources)

How it made the difference

“My advisor helped me get out of my comfort zone and pursue two very challenging degrees in four years. I did it with their support.” —First-year graduate student, Oregon Institute of Technology

“Academic advising: As an on-campus graduate student completing an at-home online second degree, I find that this service is extremely helpful on campus as it is off campus.” —Third-year graduate student, Queen’s University, Ontario

Commuter student services

“Having an area to study between classes really helped me use my time on campus efficiently.” —Third-year graduate student, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, New York

“This resource has helped me feel connected to my college community.” —First-year community college student, school withheld

Typical services

Services for live-at-home commuters and off-campus commuters

Student lounges for studying, meeting up with friends, meeting new people, or relaxing between classes

Kitchenette to reheat meals from home (varies by school)

Access to information on transportation, campus lockers, off-campus living and more

Library services

“The friendly support of our librarians in helping me find journal articles through the library’s online databases made a huge difference in my being able to complete my research well.” —Second-year graduate student, Arkansas Tech University

Typical services

Books, articles, and journals, hard-copy or electronic, available to borrow

Loans and sometimes rentals of textbooks, laptops, and other materials (varies)

Access to software, such as Microsoft Office

Specialized research resources for needs relating to disability services and other programs

Printing, photocopying, and scanning (may involve fees)

Cost if paying privately: no direct equivalent

How it made the difference

“The library made a huge difference. It was a place of quiet where I could put 100 percent of my focus into my work. The people within the library also helped to bring my papers to the next level.” —Second-year student, Concordia University of Edmonton, Alberta

“Librarians are an amazing resource when working on research.” —First-year graduate student, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

“The library made a great difference in my study habits.” —Fourth-year graduate student, Florida International University

Disability, injury, and illness accommodations and services

“It changed everything. I finally felt like I was on an even playing field with my peers.” —Fourth-year undergraduate, Stanford University, California

“It really helped me get the support I needed.” —Third-year graduate student, University of Maine

Typical services

Works to create equitable support services for students with physical, psychiatric, or developmental disabilities and illness

Academic and living accommodations to help students with challenges related to disability, injury, and illness

How it made the difference

“It has allowed me to have extra time on exams and help with courses.” —Part-time online student, Algonquin College, Ontario

“I have ADHD and never wanted to be one of those students who gets extra time and help... So I’ve never gotten help that I probably need. I haven’t overcome it and it’s probably negatively affecting me.”—Third-year undergraduate, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Counseling

“I took advantage of group therapy, which allowed me to be a part of other people’s struggles and hear their experiences, and have them hear mine as well. I was able to learn and get back to living my life.” —Third-year graduate student, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, New York

“Counseling made a wonderful difference and gave me confidence throughout the school year.” —Second-year graduate student, Nova Scotia Community College

Typical services

Free counseling/therapy services, confidential for those age 18+ (below that age, inquire about confidentiality law and policy)

Individual and group counseling, emergency psychological services, and wellness programming including workshops and groups

Support with issues including life transitions and adjusting to student life

How it made the difference

“I struggled in school, and I started having emotional issues. School became so overwhelming that I had to take a year off and attend my local community college. Counseling really helped me a lot.” —Fifth-year student, Santa Rosa Junior College, California

“It made a substantial difference by giving me feedback on interview skills and job resources. They were always very helpful and supportive.” —Second-year graduate student, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Typical services

Internship, summer job, and co-op opportunities, application information, and guidance on making the most of these positions

How it made the difference

“Having a health center made it easy to get check ups, flu shots, etc.” —Third-year graduate student, University of California, Los Angeles

“The health center provided me with that-day doctor appointments, which minimized the amount of time I spent out of class sick.” —Fifth-year student, University of Wyoming

Support for minority communities

Typical services

Special benefits/scholarships for veterans (via Veteran Affairs Office or equivalent)

International student services assist with cultural transitions and other issues

Native American student services may include advising, scholarships, housing, etc.

Chaplaincy and other religious and spiritual services offer community and worship, often in a multi-faith environment

Gender equity services and women’s centers provide community and support with issues relating to discrimination

Cost if paying privately: no direct equivalent

How it made the difference

“The indigenous student support services made it possible for me to complete my first undergrad and start my second one. I wish I’d accessed the Native Student Union earlier.” —Second-year student, University of Victoria, British Columbia

Title IX services

Typical services

Promotes a nondiscriminatory educational, living, and working environment

Confidential resources and support relating to actions that violate nondiscrimination laws and policies, including sexual assault, coercion, and harassment, and exclusion of transgender students from facilities and opportunities

How it made the difference

“It helped me with my sexual assault case and made me feel like my situation mattered.” —Fourth-year online student, University of North Dakota

“One girl was harassing and bullying me. The police took the situation very seriously and took me to meet with the dean. I received a no-contact order with that student and have yet to hear from her since.” —Second-year undergraduate, Indiana University Southeast

Your wish list: What you'd like to see on campus

These responses came from students at numerous colleges and universities across the US and Canada. Some of these resources may be available at your school.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2015, May 5). Primary care visits available to most uninsured but at high price. Retrieved from http://www.jhsph.edu/news/news-releases/2015/primary-care-visits-available-to-most-uninsured-but-at-a-high-price.html

Taylor Rugg is an undergraduate at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York. She’s double majoring in writing & rhetoric and war, warfare & the soldier experience. She has studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is hoping to pursue a doctorate degree in rhetoric or linguistics. Taylor is a member of the SH101 Student Advisory Board 2016–17.

Karl Johnston studied Human Resources and Labour Management at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. He is the former Canadian Features Editor of Let’s Be Wild magazine and It’s Just Light magazine, and a columnist at The Northern Journal. Karl is a member of the SH101 Student Advisory Board 2016–17.